Thread: Dust Extraction for XYZ Carve CNC

I'd absolutely be going for the boot, you want to get your extraction point as close as possible to the source. Even so, you'll have to put some holes in your enclosure because it has to get the air from somewhere.

I'm also a bit concerned about an air cooled spindle in such a confined space. That thing could be running for hours at a time (depending on the job) and it will get quite toasty in there if you enclose it completely.

Originally Posted by elanjacobs

I'd absolutely be going for the boot, you want to get your extraction point as close as possible to the source. Even so, you'll have to put some holes in your enclosure because it has to get the air from somewhere.

I'm also a bit concerned about an air cooled spindle in such a confined space. That thing could be running for hours at a time (depending on the job) and it will get quite toasty in there if you enclose it completely.

The more I think about it I think I might need to add some forced air in, I have actually seen somebody add an air blower to push air in and force the dust/chips into the extraction point, that would also aid in keeping the enclosure cool. I actually quite like this idea, as you could mount some type of air blower on top of the enclosure and have an extraction point at the front, or vice versa...

I went for a dust boot, as the shavings (especially of plastics that stick to everything due to electrostatics) get onto tracks that the wheels are moving on, and the carriages are not moving as smooth anymore until you clean them! This deteriorates the milling precision a fair bit.

So I'm going to trial a dust boot (38mm hose) and a 150 mm port near the front of the machine, I have added the port already as you can see in the attached photo. I plan on putting two vents at the back of the enclosure for the front port to pull air through for dust collection and also for increased air cooling of the router/enclosure.
What size vents on the back would people recommend?
Also, should I put a vent on the opposite side to the port instead of the back?

IMG_0254.jpg

Do you have a shop vac style unit for the 38mm hose or are you planning to hook it in to your big extractor? A shop vac will work much better on a small hose.

Originally Posted by elanjacobs

Do you have a shop vac style unit for the 38mm hose or are you planning to hook it in to your big extractor? A shop vac will work much better on a small hose.

I do have a shop vac but I do plan on using it with the big extractor at this stage. That is also how I currently run my mitre saw, an enclosure with a 150 mm port behind with a small hose attached to the dust extraction connection. I may do some tests with the small hose connected to the extractor or the shop vac...

I’d be worried about drawing all the dust across the electrics, with the box right near the 150mm outlet. I’d also be worried about heat build up in the Trim router cooling as Elan pointed out and also dust through the motor with an enclosed structure.

Originally Posted by Lappa

I’d be worried about drawing all the dust across the electrics, with the box right near the 150mm outlet. I’d also be worried about heat build up in the Trim router cooling as Elan pointed out and also dust through the motor with an enclosed structure.

Just to be clear the box in the pic with all the electrics will be mounted on the outside of the enclosure. The small box next to the outlet currently is a single stepper motor which obviously moves as the CNC moves.

I will have to see what happens but as long as the dust boot takes up a lot of the dust as the router cuts, I wouldn’t have imagined the remaining dust will be at such a level to cause problems. I don’t see much difference here to a router upside down in an enclosed router table? Am I missing something?


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That’s good news about the box
Regarding the trimmer - on arouter table the router is fixed, so airflow can be directed to one point to ensure that it’s getting some reasonably clean airflow. The trimmer is pulling air into its case to keep cool.
With the router moving back and forth and front and back on a CNC, it’s harder to ensure that direct airflow, especially in an enclosed cabinet which is not all that high.
My tablesaw and router table, both of which are home built, have purpose built air ducts and holes/slits to direct fresh air to the motors.
Thats just my concern and may be unfounded.

The answer might be a piece of 4" flex hose attached to the trimmer with the other end connected to a hole in the enclosure.
Doing that might mean that most of the clean makeup air is first cooling the trimmer before passing across the work and picking up the dust.

The port may have been better up the back away from the tracks, the dust and chips will be drawn around that track and may get caught in the track. Watching with interest!